The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1887-03-10


folls to her other accomplishments. All
the fencing teachers of Paris have their
feminine pupils. who are by no means
restricted to the actresses. Young
women of the highest classes in society
fence as regularly as they ride or dance.
In fact, if it were not for fencing lesson
IN the morning many of them would feel
less inclination to dance in the evening.
NO actual duel between women is on
record, Notwithstanding the notorious
painting of '.An Affair of Honor" which
ornamented the Paris Salon couple of
years ago. Nevertheless no one who
knows the vagaries in which the women
OF the French Capital sometimes indulge
would be surprised to read of SAN
culinary encounter between a pair of
them at Vincennes or in the forest of St.
Germain. al
81 remember when was Young
provost in one of the big fencing schools
III Paris, said the same teacher quoted
before, what sensation it used to cause
when the hour for the ladies' lessons
came. All the men except the master
and myself were put out, but how they
did beg to be allowed to stay! But the
master was inexorable. He was an old
soldier and believed in discipline. But
they used to hang about the doors and
look through the keyholes. One young
fellow hid in closet once, but he was
found out and elected in great disgrace. :"
Regis Senac, the genial fencing master
of the New York Athletic Club, said
the other day that he never had so
many applications from women who
| wanted to take lessons as he has since
Mrs. Langtry became his pupil. NJ.
Senac is not her first master; she has
taken lessons in London, and is now
more expert in the use of the foil than
a woman often becomes. The writer
was allowed to be present at one of her
lessons not long ago. M. Senac comes
to her house in West Twenty-third
street every morning while she is in
town. He is due at ten o clock. "And
l." said Mrs. Langtry, "often don't rise
until he is announced; for yon can
imagine that sometimes it is struggle
to get up for lesson, after having
worked hard the evening before. But
find that / am the better all day for
the exercise; so summon up my cour-
age and tumble into my costume.
Mrs. Langtry's costume consists of a
close-fitting waistcoat of white buck
skin, large baggy trousers of white
flannel that descend to the knee, and
white stockings. She is too experienced
a swordswoman to think of indulging
in any extravagances in the way of
heels. She wears buckskin gloves, but
if her master were not an extremely
careful man she would be obliged to
wear heavily-padded glove, at least
on her right hand; for one sometimes
gets rap with the foil over the knuckles
4hat makes the whole arm tingle.
The first half of the lesson was Just
over when the writer was admitted the
other morning. Mrs. Langtry had
thrown wrap over her shoulders as a
protection after the heat of exercise,
while Senac was pacing the floor in all
the glory of black velvet costume
After few minutes of rest work was
resumed and the famous beauty rubbed
the resin on her soles, put on her mask,
and fell into position with the left arm
gracefully extended-all as naturally as
if she had been brought up in fencing
rooms. Her motions had none of the
wildness and looseness which charac-
terize the efforts of a beginner. Every
maneuyer was clean-cut and precise.
The play of her foil was so small that,
to use NJ. Senac's favorite simile, it
could have been executed within the
ring of young girl. After about ten
minutes of this exercise Mrs. Langtry
claimed the right to another rest.
When she had recovered breath she was
eloquent in praise of fencing, and told
what it did for her.
mot only do l feel the good effects
of my morning lesson all through the
day." she said, in general toning up
of the whole system, but find that my
fencing is particularly valuable to me
in my profession. 1t gives me a COM
mand over my muscles and supple
ness that are invaluable on the stage. !"
M. Senac is as proud as peacock Of
his pupil. He gives her lessons in
single-stick as well, and an extremely
pretty picture she makes, twirling her
light cane about her head. She calls it
the art of defending ones self with an
umbrella. Senac wants her to give a
public exhibition with the foils when
she comes back to New York. Mrs.
Langtry does not absolutely refuse, but
she says that if she gives an exhibition
only ladies will be admitted. Probably
a good many men will feel inclined to
put on petticoats for the occasion.
Y. Tribune.
Prof Ordway recommends that
water pipes exposed to freezing be COW
cred with glazed cotton batting. It is
easily applied. and should be put on to
the thickness Of one to three inches, ac-